04 April 2011

Hava-what?

A lot of people ask about the history of the Havanese, so here's an excerpt from the AKC breed standard for the Havanese and a photo of my little girl, Emma. (One of the first shots off the "new" Nikon D5000)

The National Dog of Cuba and the country’s only native breed, the Havanese is a small, sturdy dog with a friendly disposition. His wavy, silky coat is profuse, but remains extremely light, insulating and protecting the breed against harsh tropical heat. His coat, which comes in all colors, should remain untrimmed. The Havanese’s popularity in the show ring has grown quickly, and they are also now high in demand as a family pet.An old breed, the Havanese is a descendant of breeds brought to Cuba from Spain and could also be related to the Tenerife, an ancestor of the entire Bichon family. Once known as the Havana Silk Dog and the Spanish Silk Poodle, the Havanese evolved from its role as a pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy into a family companion responsible for being a watchdog, child’s playmate and herder of the family’s poultry flock.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Gisi of Good Everyday Things. Mark is a California native who currently lives in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. He's Co-Founder and a Partner at Eastern Standard, a Philadelphia-based agency.